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1745 Anson View of the Port of Acapulco, Mexico

AcapulcoView-anson-1745
$125.00
A View of the Entrance of the Port of Acapulco. - Main View
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1745 Anson View of the Port of Acapulco, Mexico

AcapulcoView-anson-1745


Title


A View of the Entrance of the Port of Acapulco.
  1745 (undated)     8.5 x 19.5 in (21.59 x 49.53 cm)

Description


An extremely attractive 1745 view of the Mexican port city of Zihuatanejo by George Anson. This view details the starting point on the trans-Atlantic trade route long dominated by the Spanish in Mexico. Spanish Galleons laden with treasure would leave from Acapulco, depicted here, en route to Manila in the Philippines. On one such voyage in 1743 the British naval commander George Anson captured the Spanish galleon Nostra Seigniora de Cabadonga. The Spanish galleon was loaded with gold, silver and, more importantly, nautical charts depicting the trade routes used by Spanish Galleons between Mexico and Manila for the previous 200 years. This significant discovery allowed the British to disrupts Spain's trade in the Pacific and thus economically disrupt the Spanish dominance of the New World. Today Acapulco is a well-known resort area in Guerrero, Mexico. Details the harbor beautifully showing mountains and sailing vessels. Prepared as plate number XXXII for inclusion in the 1745 issue of Anson's Voyage round the world…

Cartographer


Baron George Anson (23 April 1697 - 6 June 1762) was a British commodore and a wealthy noble. Following Anson's aristocratic upbringing on the family estate of Shugborough in Sataffordshire, he joined the British Navy. Anson went through a series of rapid promotions and, in 1737, was given command of a fleet of six ships charged with the mission of attacking Spanish possessions in South America. This mission was ill-equipped and unprepared for the trials ahead. Storms and navigational errors took a heavy toll on the expedition. By the time Anson reached the island of Juan Fernandez his fleet had been diminished to only three ships and his crew reduced to roughly 1/3 of its original strength. Nonetheless, Anson's persistence eventually led to the capture of an immensely rich price, the Spanish treasure galleon Nuestra Senora de Covadonga. The galleon, taken off of Cape Espiritu Santo in 1743 was loaded with silver bullion and, more importantly, charts and maps detailing the routes between Mexico and the Far East used by the Spanish for over 200 years. Knowledge of this route enabled the British navy to disrupt Spanish trade in the Pacific and thus weaken its stranglehold on the Americas. Upon his return to England Anson was hailed as a national hero and made immensely wealthy by his share of the Nuestra's treasure. Anson retired from the Navy for a career in politics and was a Member of Parliament from 1744 to 1747. Anson subsequently continued his naval career with distinction as an administrator, becoming First Lord of the Admiralty (1757-1762). Seven British warships have borne the name HMS Anson in his honor. Anson County, North Carolina, and Ansonborough in Charleston, South Carolina, are also named in Anson's honor. More by this mapmaker...

Source


Anson, G., Atlas to Anson's Voyage round the world. (1745)    

Condition


Very good condition. Some creasing near original folds. Blank on verso. Platemark visible.

References


National Library of Australia, MAP NK 3382/32.